Reviews

Reviews November 12, 2012

Saladini Pilastri “Vigna Monteprandone," Rosso Piceno Superiore, Marches, Italy.

Grapes 70% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese.   Facts “Excuse me…yes, hello! This is my first time in your wine store and I was wondering if you could help me. I read this review online today written by this delightful Englishman and I was hoping you know it. The wine is: Saladini Pilastri ‘Vigna Monteprandone,’ Rosso Piceno Superiore from Marches, Italy. Do you have it?”  The name of this wine doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, now…

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Reviews November 6, 2012

No Matter Your Political Affiliation, You Need Schmor Donkey and Elephant Wine!

…and so we arrive at Election Day 2012. I don’t know about you, but I’m just going to be happy that it’s all over…mainly for the fact that I can’t vote (since I’m officially only a U.S. resident) and also so I don’t have to read any more of the misguided rhetoric which seems to have comprised the majority of my Facebook feed for the last 2 months! Then again, we’re still going to have…

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Reviews November 1, 2012

Alma Negra “M Blend,” Mendoza, Argentina.

Grapes Malbec, Bonarda (Percentages are kept a secret….like we care!)   Facts It’s not mandatory that you sit on the front porch of your house on Halloween with your “better half” to drink the Alma Negra “M Blend,” but that’s what I chose to do last night. In my former life (as a Restaurant Manager) I always seemed to find myself missing out on most of the “fun” holidays (Halloween, Valentines Day, Saint Swithin’s Day…

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Reviews October 26, 2012

Vincent Girardin “Emotion” Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France.

Grapes 100% Pinot Noir   Facts When is a French Pinot not a French Pinot? When it’s the Vincent Girardin “Emotion,” of course! I consider a wine like this a timid step forward for those looking to ever-so-slowly “get their wine-drinking into France,” when they used to drinking mainly Cali Pinot.The problem I have found is that when people start out their wine drinking lives by starting with New World Pinot Noir and then try…

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Reviews October 18, 2012

Barba Vignafranca Montepulciano, Abruzzo, Italy.

Grapes 100% Montepulciano [Mawn-teh-pool-CHA-noh] I personally always make the point of pronouncing it in as ridiculously strong of an Italian accent as possible, with plenty of hand gestures (no matter where I am): Montepulciano!!!   Facts The first question I always end up answering about Montepulciano (as a grape) is: “What is it most similar to?” The best way I’ve found to describe Montepulciano is almost as a cross between Merlot and Chianti. The body…

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Reviews October 12, 2012

Yalumba Scribbler Cabernet/Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia.

Grapes 61% Cabernet, 31% Shiraz   Facts I know it’s kind-of a sweeping statement, but it’s hard to go wrong with the wines from Yalumba. They always give plenty of bang for the buck! I actually picked up this bottle (as well as a few others) on my recent trip back to the Motherland (England). It’s not that you can’t find this wine in the U.S., you certainly can; but since I was staying at…

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Reviews October 4, 2012

Denbies Whitedowns Cuvée NV Sparkling, Surrey, England.

Grapes 100% Seyval BlancYes, you are indeed forgiven for never having heard-of/tasted Seyval Blanc. The reason this French hybrid grape is starting to see a rise in popularity in English vineyards (as well as in New York and Canada), is that it isn’t opposed to a little cold weather (something which England does so well), since it buds and ripens early.   Facts The time is currently 8:28am GMT and I’m headed back to the…

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Reviews September 24, 2012

Inkblot by Michael David Winery, Cabernet Franc, Lodi, California.

Grapes Mainly Cabernet Franc, with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah blended in.   Facts Have you ever been head-butted in the face by a wine? No? Pour yourself a glass of the Inkblot and you will be! The name should give you a not-so-subtle clue as to what the Michael~David winery are trying to achieve with this juice! With that said, Michael~David aren’t exactly known for their subtle style of winemaking anyway….

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Reviews September 14, 2012

Fulcrum Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast.

  Grapes 100% Pinot Noir   Facts Ok, let’s get something straight from the start! There’s Pinot and there’s Pinot. The perception of Pinot Noir by most wine drinkers has been so skewed, thanks to grocery store brands, that it’s not even funny! Sure, wines such as the Fulcrum aren’t “everyday gluggers,” but if you really want to know what Pinot Noir SHOULD taste like, you need to be willing to occasionally invest a little…

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Reviews September 7, 2012

Haraszthy Zinfandel, Amador County, California.

Grapes 93% Zinfandel, 7% Mourvedre   Facts The Haraszthy line of wines [pronounced: Hare-ass-tee] is part of the Bronco Wine Company portfolio. If Bronco doesn’t sound too familiar, maybe this one will: Fred Franzia. That’s right, Ol’ Fred Franzia, nephew of Ernest Gallo, and founder of the Charles Shaw brand, otherwise more affectionately known as “Two Buck Chuck.” Now, before you get ahead of yourself, Fred Franzia has no part in the winemaking for this…

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Reviews August 30, 2012

Lamadrid Cabernet Franc, Agrelo, Argentina

Grapes 100% Cabernet Franc   Facts Cabernet Franc isn’t exactly the first grape that springs to mind when you think of Argentina. Maybe that’s why this one wasn’t that pricey! Cab Franc shouldn’t be named the “red headed stepchild” of Argentine grapes; it’s actually more like the: “some guy who showed up a party (hosted by a guy named: ‘Mal Bec’) without an invitation, and was ignored by everyone there, even though he has a…

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Reviews August 20, 2012

Ribeira Sacra "Alodio" Mencia, Spain

Grapes 100% Mencia – pronounced “Mehn-cee-ah,” (or “Mehn-thee-ah” in Castilian Spanish…say it like you have a lisp.)   Facts My advice for wine drinkers (especially new wine drinkers) has ALWAYS been to try and venture outside your comfort zone and be open to trying new wines i.e. don’t get caught in a rut, drinking essentially the same old wine that you’ve been drinking for years. The Ribeira Sacra “Alodio” Mencia is a perfect example of…

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